30-Day rule

Regarding the 30-day absence rule, I have recently had a fellow snowbird inform me that they have been told that you must actually return to Canada in order for those days not to be counted toward your U.S. time as opposed to travelling, for example, to Mexico for 30 days. Can you clarify this for me?

Nancy Rosse
Campbell River, B.C.

Response:Ed.: We must first clarify that a U.S. border guard has enormous power and basically can do anything he or she wants. They can bar you from the U.S., restrict your trip to 10 days or 60 days, or do whatever they feel like that day. Based on our information, any absence of more than 30 days is NOT counted as time in the U.S. It does not matter where you go. Mexico is fine.